What Sparks Poetry is a serialized feature that explores experiences and ideas that spark the writing of new poems. In our new series, Object Lessons, poets meditate on the magical journey from object to poem via one of their own poems. Each Monday's delivery brings you the poem and an excerpt from the essay. 
Peter Streckfus
In the froth of bubbles on the surface of your bath, I put to sea
a starfish-shaped cup.

In the cup was a figurine,
its species unclear—it looked like a pig monkey

floating in the shell of the boat, amid the bubbles.
Float, I said.

Float, you said.
You took the boat and pulled it under the bubbles toward yourself.

You tried then to float it again, filled with water.
But its inside and outside had become similar.

It no longer existed as boat.
It was in a state of fullness.

You did not understand,
as you had only recently entered your own boat.

I took the animal and the boat
and floated them together.

No, you said.
You pulled the boat and animal back under

and looked at me.
Swim, you said.
from the journal BENNINGTON REVIEW
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Cover of the Bennington Review, Issue 7
What Sparks Poetry:
Peter Streckfus on "An Allegory"

"I thought about the future—and the shores my daughter would stand on—every time we played in water. Play with a young child is always about the objects themselves, but at the same time always seems somehow allegorical. A story unfolds. Ideas about the world are exposed: Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub…."
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"Poems and Photographs by Rachel Eliza Griffiths"

"The boldness of Griffiths’ presence at times may lead one to forget how much terror and how many 'properties of law, custom, and reference' are being transcended. But she will remind you. In her work, the conventional aspect of 'voice' gives way to turbulent but eloquent expression, the repurposing of the familiar, and declamation."
 
via ON THE SEAWALL
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Resources for Supporting and Uplifting the Black Community

Thurgood Marshall College Fund: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund supports "public historically black colleges and universities and students. The fund has grown well beyond merely providing scholarships. It tackles the obstacles students face before, during and after college."

The African American Planning Commission (AAPC) Inc.: The AAPC is "a New York City-based nonprofit organization committed to reducing homelessness and addressing the related issues of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance abuse, shortage of affordable housing, and unemployment."

Black to the Future: "Black to the Future Action Fund is a think tank / act tank that works to make Black communities powerful in politics. We build our capacity to design, win, and implement changes to the problems we face. We expand and protect democracy, and fight for our democracy to work for us."
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Poetry Daily stands with the Black community. 
We oppose racism, oppression, and police brutality.
We will continue to amplify diverse voices in the poetry world.
Black Lives Matter.
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